Gasgoo.com (Shanghai September 6) - Mazda has sold 136,465 vehicles in China since the start of the year, China Business News reported today. The figure is 5 percent lower than the amount sold from January to August in 2010. Mazda's August sales hit 17,497 units, again slightly lower (11 percent) than the amount sold last August.

Sales results for the first eight months of the year among the manufacturer's two joint ventures, FAW Mazda and Changan Mazda, displayed negative year-on-year growth at 5 and 6 percent respectively. FAW Mazda managed total sales of 88,316 vehicles, while Changan Mazda sold 48,149 vehicles.

Mazda China Chairman and CEO Yamada Noriaki agreed that the manufacturer's sales performance thus far was still lackluster when compared with last year. However, he was confident that after expanding its sales network in September and introducing the new Mazda3 Xingcheng (pictured), the manufacturer would be able to recover.

Mazda plans to expand its dealer network to over 370 4S outlets by the end of the year, with already 338 dealers in operation currently. The manufacturer has also stated its intent to broaden its product line for the Chinese market.

Source:gasgoo